Griffith Observatory is located in Los Angeles, California, USA. It lies between the Hollywood Hills and the city of Los Angeles, situated in Griffith Park, and is famous for its telescopes, planetarium shows, and panoramic views of Los Angeles.
Griffith Observatory Location Map, Los Angeles, California
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Top Attractions Inside Griffith Observatory
- Planetarium Theater 鈥� Immersive shows about space, stars, and the universe.
- Samuel Oschin Telescope 鈥� Public telescope for night sky viewing and astronomy observation.
- Exhibit Halls 鈥� Interactive displays on space, planets, telescopes, and Earth sciences.
- Foucault Pendulum 鈥� Demonstrates Earth鈥檚 rotation in a visually engaging way.
- Observatory Dome & Viewpoints 鈥� Panoramic views of Los Angeles, Hollywood, and the surrounding hills.
- Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater 鈥� Venue for astronomy lectures, educational films, and public programs.
- Public Programs & Star Parties 鈥� Evening events with telescopes and guided stargazing sessions.
Griffith Observatory Facts
| Official Name | Griffith Observatory |
| Location | Los Angeles 鈥� Mount Hollywood / Griffith Park, California, USA |
| Latitude & Longitude | 34.1186掳 N, 118.3004掳 W (approximate for Observatory) :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1} |
| Altitude | 1,134 ft (鈮� 346 m) above sea level :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2} |
| Opened / Inauguration Date | May 14, 1935 :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3} |
| Founder / Benefactor | Griffith J. Griffith (bequest and land donation for public observatory & park) :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5} |
| Managed By | City of Los Angeles 鈥� Department of Recreation & Parks (per original bequest) :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6} |
| Region | Griffith Park / Hollywood Hills / Los Angeles Basin, Southern California |
| Address | 2800 East Observatory Road, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7} |
| Time Zone | Pacific Time (PT) 鈥� UTC鈭�8 Standard / UTC鈭�7 Daylight Saving |
| Theme / Concept | Public astronomy, science education, stargazing, planetarium & exhibits + city and skyline viewing, cultural landmark |
| Key Features / Sections | Samuel Oschin Planetarium 鈥� Zeiss 12-inch Refracting Telescope (and public telescopes) 鈥� Exhibition halls (space, astronomy, Earth & universe displays) 鈥� Viewing terraces & grounds with panoramic views of Los Angeles, Hollywood Sign, Pacific Coast 鈥� Hiking / park trails around Observatory (Mount Hollywood, Griffith Park) :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8} |
| Public Visiting / Admission | Free admission to building and grounds 鈥� no entry fee required. Planetarium shows & some events may have a nominal fee. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9} |
| Visitor Experience / Popularity | One of the most-visited public observatories in the world 鈥� the observatory building + grounds draw 1.6 million visitors per year; since 1935, over 85 million visitors overall. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10} |
| Opened After Renovation | Reopened November 2, 2006 after major renovation & expansion (2002鈥�2006) to enlarge exhibit space and modernize facilities. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11} |
| Official Website | https://griffithobservatory.org/ :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12} |
Distances from Griffith Observatory to Nearby Landmarks
- Hollywood Sign 鈥� 2 km (1.2 mi)
- Hollywood Walk of Fame 鈥� 6 km (3.7 mi)
- Dolby Theatre 鈥� 6 km (3.7 mi)
- Hollywood Bowl 鈥� 5 km (3.1 mi)
- Los Angeles Zoo 鈥� 3 km (1.9 mi)
- Runyon Canyon Park 鈥� 3 km (1.9 mi)
- Santa Monica Pier 鈥� 27 km (16.8 mi)
- Universal Studios Hollywood 鈥� 7 km (4.3 mi)
- Downtown Los Angeles 鈥� 14 km (8.7 mi)
- Walt Disney Concert Hall 鈥� 14 km (8.7 mi)
- LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) 鈥� 11 km (6.8 mi)
- La Brea Tar Pits 鈥� 11 km (6.8 mi)
- Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round 鈥� 2 km (1.2 mi)
- Observatory Trailhead 鈥� 0 km (0 mi)
- Griffith Park Visitor Center 鈥� 1 km (0.6 mi)
- Hollywood & Highland 鈥� 6 km (3.7 mi)
- Echo Park Lake 鈥� 10 km (6.2 mi)
- Los Feliz Village 鈥� 2 km (1.2 mi)
- Silver Lake Reservoir 鈥� 6 km (3.7 mi)
- Runyon Canyon Trailhead 鈥� 3 km (1.9 mi)
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